Clutch for torque transmission between a shaft and a roller which is arranged coaxially around the shaft

Abstract

The present invention relates to a clutch ( 20 ) for torque transmission between a shaft ( 2 ) and a roller ( 30 ) which is arranged coaxially around the shaft ( 2 ), comprising pneumatically actuable means for selectively interrupting and/or producing a force flow between the shaft ( 2 ) and roller ( 30 ), wherein the clutch ( 20 ) is arranged within the roller ( 30 ) coaxially between the shaft ( 2 ) and roller ( 30 ).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Clutch ( 20 ) for transmitting torque between a shaft ( 2 ) and a roller ( 30 ) arranged coaxially around the shaft ( 2 ), comprising pneumatically actuatable means for selectively interrupting or producing a force flow between the shaft ( 2 ) and roller ( 30 ), characterized in that the clutch ( 20 ) is arranged inside the roller ( 30 ) coaxially between the shaft ( 2 ) and roller ( 30 ), and wherein the pneumatically actuatable means comprises a pneumatic cylinder ( 3 ) with a piston ( 11 ) movable therein, the pneumatic cylinder being rotatably mounted relative to the shaft ( 2 ) and the roller ( 30 ) with the piston ( 11 ) acting on a rotatably arranged clutch disc ( 8 ) non-rotationally connected to the shaft ( 2 ) or roller ( 30 ) for pressing said clutch disc, on actuation of the clutch, against a corresponding face ( 13 ) non-rotationally connected to the roller ( 30 ) or shaft ( 2 ), or alternatively for lifting said clutch disk from said corresponding face ( 13 ). 
     
     
       2. Clutch according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the pneumatic cylinder ( 3 ) comprises a circular piston arranged coaxially between the shaft ( 2 ) and roller ( 30 ). 
     
     
       3. Clutch according to  claim 1  or  2 , characterized in that the pneumatic cylinder ( 3 ) comprises a restoring spring ( 12 ), which, upon an interruption of the compressed air supply, returns the piston ( 11 ) of the pneumatic cylinder ( 3 ) into a starting position. 
     
     
       4. Clutch according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the pneumatically actuable means are operable only to alternatively interrupt or produce a force flow between the shaft ( 2 ) and the roller ( 30 ), and spring-loaded means are provided to act in opposition to the pneumatically actuable means. 
     
     
       5. Clutch according to  claim 4 , characterized in that the spring-loaded means comprise a compression spring ( 9 ). 
     
     
       6. Clutch according to either of  claim 4  or  5 , characterized in that the piston ( 11 ) of the pneumatic cylinder ( 3 ), upon a supply of compressed air, lifts the clutch disc ( 8 ) from the corresponding face ( 13 ) against the spring loading, wherein the spring-loaded means ( 9 ) presses the clutch disc ( 8 ) against the corresponding face ( 13 ) when the supply of compressed air is interrupted. 
     
     
       7. Clutch according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the clutch disc ( 8 ) is non-rotationally connected to the roller ( 30 ) and the corresponding face ( 13 ) is non-rotationally connected to the shaft. 
     
     
       8. Clutch according to  claim 7 , characterized in that the non-rotational connection between the roller ( 30 ) and clutch disc ( 8 ) takes place by means of grooves ( 15 ) extending on the inside on the roller ( 30 ) parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof, and projections ( 14 ) arranged on the clutch disc ( 8 ) and engaging in the grooves ( 15 ). 
     
     
       9. Clutch according to  claim 7 , characterized in that the non-rotational connection between the roller ( 30 ) and clutch disc ( 8 ) is formed by means of a carrier ( 10 ), which can be arranged in the roller and has grooves ( 15 ) extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the roller ( 30 ), as well as projections ( 14 ) arranged on the clutch disc ( 8 ) and engaging in the grooves ( 15 ) of the carrier. 
     
     
       10. Clutch according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the corresponding face comprises a face ( 13 ) extending normally to the longitudinal axis of the shaft ( 2 ) of a hub ( 1 ) arranged on the inside in the roller ( 30 ) and non-rotationally connected to the shaft ( 2 ).